The definition of “marriage” is a moving target so planning for same sex couples is a dynamic area of practice for estate planning attorneys. Recent years have seen many changes and great advancement for lesbian and gay couples. Prior to 2015: California and other states have instituted marriage equivalents such as Civil Union or Domestic Partnership Some states and the District of Columbia permited same sex marriage. California briefly legalized same sex marriage before it was … [Read more...] about Estate Planning for California Same Sex Couples
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning
Estate Planning Concerns of the LGBTQ+ Community and Solutions
If you’re an unmarried partner in a LGBTQ+ couple, you know that if one partner becomes ill or passes away, the life you’ve worked to build together could be in jeopardy. California law doesn’t contain any default provisions that let unmarried partners inherit from each other unless they are registered domestic partners. Similarly, except for registered domestic partners, California law does not contain any default provisions that allow one unmarried partner to make medical or financial … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Concerns of the LGBTQ+ Community and Solutions
Using a Trust to Help with LGBTQ Estate Planning
Recent legal victories within the LGBT community have certainly provided reason to celebrate; however, until absolute legal equality exists comprehensive estate planning remains crucial. With that in mind, let's see how a trust can help with LGBT estate planning. Legal Victories After decades of fighting for equality, one of the most important LGBTQ battles was finally won in 2015. In the historic case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court of the United States finally declared that … [Read more...] about Using a Trust to Help with LGBTQ Estate Planning
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
Same-sex couples celebrated a historic victory recently with the legalization of same-sex marriages throughout the United States. That victory follows a decades-long struggle for equality by the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters. While the recent victory certainly helps same-sex couples protect and provide for each other, careful estate planning continues to play an important role. If you are part of a same-sex couple, there are a number of LGBTQ+ estate planning tools and strategies that … [Read more...] about Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
Estate Planning for the LGBTQ+ Community
There was once a time when estate planning for the LGBTQ+ community was a very particular, specialized endeavor. This was because of the fact that the federal and state laws did not recognize same-sex marriages. At that time, if you did not have an estate plan as a married person, your surviving spouse would have certain rights. This was not a possibility for committed same-sex couples. At the present time, same-sex marriages are legal in the state of California, and they are also being … [Read more...] about Estate Planning for the LGBTQ+ Community
Boomers Continue to Divorce Into Retirement Age
While the likelihood that a marriage would end in divorce has decreased slightly over the last several years, the number of Americans age 50 and older who are getting divorced is now at its highest level ever. A new study from researchers at the National Center for Family and Marriage Research shows that senior divorces have increased by 50% over the last several decades In 1970, about 13% of people between the ages of 46 and 64 were divorced. By 2010, that number had reached almost 33%. More … [Read more...] about Boomers Continue to Divorce Into Retirement Age
